Statesboro FedEx Accident Lawyer

Accidents involving large commercial vehicles, including delivery trucks operated by companies like FedEx, can result in severe injuries and significant disruption to victims’ lives. When a collision occurs due to another party’s negligence, especially when it involves large delivery vehicles like those used by FedEx, understanding your rights and the legal process is crucial for seeking justice and fair compensation.

If you are injured from an accident with a FedEx truck, you may be seeking legal compensation for your injuries. Let our Statesboro aFedEx accident lawyer team handle your case for you and get you the maximum amount of compensation. Call us today at 912-764-3434 for a free consultation with a Statesboro FedEx accident lawyer.

Understanding the Landscape of Truck Accidents in Georgia

Large trucks, like the ones used by FedEx to deliver packages, when involved in an accident, tend to cause more severe injuries for all of those involved. According to data from 2023, large trucks tend to play a significant role in vehicle accidents and fatalities in Georgia. From the years 2013-2023, Georgia experienced a significant number of truck accidents. Over 50,000 truck-related crashes resulted in 257 fatalities and over 106,000 injuries over that decade in the state of Georgia. While a greater number of large truck crashes occurred on urban roadways, rural roadways had a greater proportion of such crashes.

Crashes involving large trucks were found to be 4.5 times more likely to result in serious injury or fatal outcomes compared to other vehicle types. Heavier trucks (over 26,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)) were more involved in severe traffic crashes than lighter trucks (10,001-26,000 lbs. GVWR). In 2021 alone, heavier trucks represented 87 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Understanding the common factors contributing to large truck crashes is important for accident victims. That is because vehicle crashes are complex events and usually involve multiple influencing elements. All of these elements can be factors that could determine who was at fault for the cause of the accident.

A study conducted by the LTCCS found that although there are many factors involved in an accident with a truck, there are some factors that stand out as more common than others. In the study, driver factors were the most frequently coded critical reason for a crash, accounting for 87% of the large trucks coded with a critical reason. Specific driver factors identified included inadequate surveillance (failed to look, looked but did not see), inattention (attention wandered from driving task), excessive speed, illegal maneuvers, and following too close.

Driver fatigue was also found to be a factor, estimated to be a factor in as many as 15 percent of all serious truck accidents and 30 percent of all fatal truck accidents. Other factors identified in the LTCCS study included vehicle factors (such as brake problems or a cargo shift) and environmental factors.

FedEx’s Accident Rate

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that more than 3.5 million commercial trucks deliver consumer products, goods, and materials across the United States each year. Unfortunately, the number of accidents that involve large vehicles is also increasingly common.

It may surprise you that certain trucking companies have been involved in truck crashes more often than others. Understanding which companies are behind the cause of these collisions can help identify missing preventative measures and potentially find liability due to the lack of preventative measures.

While not specific to Georgia, national data reported to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides some insight into FedEx’s involvement in accidents. For example, over a two-year span, FedEx Ground trucks were involved in 848 serious injury crashes and 89 fatal truck accidents nationwide.FedEx Express was involved in 115 serious injury crashes and 7 fatal truck accidents before July 2023.

Having an experienced Statesboro Accident Attorney can help you determine who was at fault for your accident, and is knowledgeable on FedEx accidents and their frequency in Georgia. If you have been involved in a FedEx truck accident, call Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today for a free consultation at 912-764-3434.

Navigating Liability in Truck Accidents

Determining who is at fault in a truck accident can be complex, as multiple parties might be determined to be liable for the cause of the accident. In addition to the truck driver, potential at-fault parties could include the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, or even cargo loaders if improper loading contributed to the crash.

The trucking company itself may be held responsible if they failed to conduct proper background checks, training, or oversight of their drivers, or if their operations did not comply with FMCSA rules. An employer may also be a defendant in a personal injury lawsuit if an accident was caused by someone driving a company vehicle.

Trucking companies are primarily responsible for ensuring their trucks make it safely to their destinations. They are obligated to ensure that vehicles are in safe working order, are correctly repaired, and are being operated by reliable drivers.

Unfortunately, many trucking companies fail to do so, leaving them open to liability claims when victims suffer devastating injuries. Trucking companies have been known to pressure truck drivers into working beyond FMCSA hours of service rules, fail to make known necessary repairs, and even fail to ensure timely safety inspections that examine vehicles before hitting the road.

Georgia Personal Injury Laws Explained by a Statesboro FedEx Accident Lawyer

In Georgia, personal injury law aims to ensure justice and fair compensation for those injured by another person’s fault or negligence. The legal foundation for most personal injury cases, including those resulting from truck accidents, is negligence. To prove negligence in Georgia, the injured party generally needs to demonstrate four elements:

1. Duty of Care: The at-fault party owed a duty of care to the injured party. Truck drivers and trucking companies have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and comply with regulations to prevent harm to others on the road.
2. Breach of Duty: The at-fault party breached this duty. This could involve a driver speeding, driving while fatigued, distracted driving, or a company failing to maintain a truck properly.
3. Causation: The breach of duty was the direct cause of the accident and the resulting harm.
4. Damages: Actual harm or damages resulted from the conduct of the at-fault party.

Georgia also follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means that if the injured party is found to be partially at fault for the accident, their compensation may be reduced by their percentage of fault. If the injured party is determined to be 50% or more responsible, they cannot recover any damages. Therefore, reducing your liability is crucial to ensuring you receive as much compensation as possible. Having an experienced Statesboro FedEx accident lawyer by your side can ensure that you get the best representation possible, and will help you fight to keep any liability you may be responsible down to a minimum.

It is important to note as well that there is a statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits in Georgia. Generally, personal injury lawsuits should be submitted within two years of the injury. Missing this deadline can result in losing the right to sue for compensation. The work and preparation required to build a strong case can take time, so it is advisable to act promptly and call the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today for a free consultation at 912-764-3434.

Types of Compensation Available

Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to various types of compensation to cover their losses. These typically include:

• Economic Damages: These cover calculable financial losses such as medical expenses (current and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity if the injury results in long-term disability, and property damage.
• Non-Economic Damages: These compensate for non-monetary losses like physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive Damages: In certain cases involving gross negligence or willful misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the offending party and deter similar conduct in the future.

A Statesboro FedEx accident lawyer can meticulously document and account for all losses to help ensure you receive a fair recovery when you contact them today at 912-764-3434 for a free consultation.

How Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Can Assist You

Navigating the aftermath of a truck accident, dealing with complex liability issues, and understanding Georgia’s personal injury laws can be overwhelming. An experienced Statesboro FedEx accident lawyer can provide invaluable assistance throughout this process.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm is experienced in helping those injured in truck accidents, and our attorneys are here to do the work for you and fight for the compensation you deserve. By having an experienced attorney handle the legal aspects, you can focus on what is important, your recovery.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a FedEx vehicle in Georgia, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible to understand your rights and options. Contact an experienced Statesboro FedEx accident lawyer who can guide you through the process and advocate for your best interests. Call Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today at 912-764-3434 for a free consultation.